Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Vegetable
Origin
Mexico, Central America
America
Types
Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario
Cucurbita pepo
Number of Varieties
320
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
agricultural areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
11-15-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2
-
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Bushy, Evergreen
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
370.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Gold, Burgundy, Dark Red
Purple, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Dark Green, Pink, Copper
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green, Dark Green, Copper
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Green, Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Broad, Unlobed
Heart shaped, toothed with three to five lobes
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
-
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Moist, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Drought, Pollution, Shade areas, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Requires watering in the growing season
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Do not water excessively
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune to stimulate growth, Prune twice a year, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
cut main flower spike, Proper mowing practices are necessary, Remove damaged fruit
Fertilizers
Ammonia sulphate, Nitrogen
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks, Compost
Pests and Diseases
Borers, Insects, Phytophthora, Red blotch
Bacterial Stem Rot, Mildew, Red blotch, Ring Rot, White spots
Plant Tolerance
Shade areas, Wet Site
Shade areas, Shallow soil, Soil Compaction
Flowers
Showy
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Leafminer, Mice, Rodents
Allergy
Diabetes, Diarrhea
Sore Throat, Stomach pain
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Ornamental use
Beauty Benefits
-
Anti-ageing, Remove blemishes
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Fixes Nitrogen, Food for animals
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anti-oxidant, Antioxidants, Asthma, Cancer, Cardiovascular problems, constipation, High cholestrol, Wounds
Antibacterial, Antioxidants, Detoxification, Rich in Potassium, Weight loss
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Seeds
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in making beverages
Cattle Fodder, Culinary use, Used as a laxative
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb, Vegetable
Botanical Name
THEOBROMA cacao
Cucurbita pepo
Common Name
Cacao, Chocolate, Cocoa
Zucchini, courgette
In Hindi
कोको संयंत्र
तोरी
In German
Kakaopflanze
Zucchini
In French
usine de cacao
Courgette
In Spanish
planta del cacao
calabacín
In Greek
φυτό του κακάο
κολοκύθι
In Portuguese
planta do cacau
abobrinha
In Polish
Kakao roślin
Kabaczek
In Latin
Cocos herba
zucchini
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Malvales
Violales
Family
Sterculiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Theobroma
Cucurbita
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
-
Tribe
Theobromeae
-
Subfamily
Byttneroideae
Solanoideae
Number of Species
22-
1
27800
👆🏻